Longitudinally elastic rail spike



EL? W55 H. T. JONES RWAH LONGITUDINALLY ELAS'IIC RATL SPIKE Filed July lO, 1951 2 Shows-Sheet l BY A/ ATTQRNEYQS M lh W55 H T. JONES Wwf/4152 LONGITUDUMLLY www: mm SPIKE:

Filed July lO, 1951 2 Sheets-Sher@ 22 Mmm.

INVENTOR /fi/f/PE/SPT 7.1/O/VE5 ,v

ATTORNE Y United States Patent Ofice 2,7 19,452 Patented Oct. 4, 1955 LONGITUDIN ALLY ELASTIC RAIL SPIKE Herbert T. Jones, Harrisburg, Pa.

Application Juiy 10, 1951, Serial No. 235,950

6 Claims. (Cl. 85-10) The invention relates to railroad spikes and aims generally to provide a rail spike having in-built longitudinal elasticity or resiliency for reducing the tendency of the spike to become displaced from the tie under the lifting stress incident to the passage of heavy rollingr stock over the rail.

Among the objects of the invention severally and interdependently are the provision of a rail spike capable of yielding under the wave motion imparted to railroad rails by rolling stock and of thereafter resuming its initial condition; the provision of a rail spike as aforesaid comprising inner core and outer shell portions with a laterally interposed elastic element and with such abutment between the inner core and outer shell portions as to provide for driving the composite spike as a unit; the provision of a spike as aforesaid in which the intermediate elastic portions is vulcanized or otherwise bonded to either or both of the core and shell portions; the provision of a spike as aforesaid having a dovetail interengagernent between its elements for progressively increasing the resistance to stretching oifered by the spike as it is elongated; the provision of a spike as aforesaid having a dovetail interengagement between its elements for causing compressive stress to be exerted on the interposed elastic element as the spike is elongated; the provision of a spike as aforesaid having means for anchoring the shell portion in a railroad tie; and the provision of novel features and combinations of structure contributing to the foregoing objects.

The invention resides in the longitudinally resilient or elastic rail spike and in the constructional features thereof hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings of illustrative embodiments of the invention.

Fig. 1 is a vertical cross section of a first embodiment.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the core portion thereof.

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section of the said embodiment in association with a tie and rail iiange.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal cross section of the said embodiment, taken on the line 4--4 of Fig. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 5 is a vertical cross section similar to Fig. 3 of a modified arrangement.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal cross section thereof.

Figs. 7 and 8 show respectively, a conventional raii spike that may be employed in the modification of Fig. 5 in vertical elevation, and a shell structure that may be employed in the modification of Fig. 5 in vertical section, before assembly of such elements.

Figs. 9 and 10 are, respectively, a perspective view of a modified form of core portion and a horizontal cross section showing the association therewith of modified forms of shell and intermediate portions.

Fig. 1l is a view similar to Fig. 10 of a further modiiication.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary detail in vertical section of still another modification, and

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary vertical section of yet another modiiication. p

As is well known in the railroad art the passage of heavy rolling stock over the trackage produces a wave motion in the rails and exerts a lifting action under the heads of the rail spikes. As a result it is a common phe nomena in employing the conventional rail spike, the general form of which is shown in Fig. 7, to have these spikes drawn upwardly from the ties to a substantial degree frequently amounting to an inch or more of elevation. This produces looseness in the track securement and results in the generation of noise and other difficulties. Since it is resognized to be impractical to eliminate the lifting of the spikes due to the danger of snapping off the heads of rigidly secured fastenings, attempts have been made to offset the difficulty by the provision of spring clamps and the like as yieldable elements for engaging the rail flange tre remote portions or" which are secured to the ties. Such devices have not been wholly satisfactory however as they considere ably increase the cost of the trackage and require replacement due to metal fatigue and breakage.

By the present invention the withdrawal of the spikes from the tie structure with consequent rupture of the wood fibers and admission of moisture to the tie socket causing rotting thereof, and the need for frequent resetting of the spikes, is substantially eliminated without recourse to complicated extraneous spring clamping devices and a simple resilient or elastic spike is provided capable of yielding to the wave motion of the rail and of reseating itself substantially in its initial position without rupture or abrasion of the Wooden tie elements.

Referring to the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. l through 4, the spike there shown comprises a headed inner core portion A, an outer shell portion B and an intermediate portion C comprising a rubbery layer interposed laterally between the portions A and B. The headed core portion A in the form shown has a shank 1 of square cross section that flares downwardly from its head 2 and is provided, herein at Vits lower end, with an abutment 3. The outer shell portion in the form shown has a pointed end 4 and lateral spike-core embracing portions 5. In the form of Figs. 1 to 4 the lateral spike-core embracing portions S are four in number (see Fig. 4) thus providing two opposed pairs of shell elements for embracing the opposite sides of the square cross section of the core shank 1.

As is best indicated in Fig. 1 the intermediate portion C may be thicker at its upper end than at its lower end for dovetailing with the flared shank 1 of the core portion A, and in this construction the shell portions 5 may be of substantially uniform thickness throughout their heights (except for the provision of barbs for anchoring the shell to the wooden tie as hereinafter described), and the intermediate portions C may be vulcanized or otherwise bonded to the shell portions 5. As shown in Fig. 1 the shell portions may, in the disassembled condition of the device, flare outwardly somewhat to facilitate entering of the core portion A between them. The shell portion B is provided with an abutment 6 opposed to the abutment 3 of the core portion A, and shown in the ernbodirnent of Figs. 1 to 4 as comprised by the iiat inner face of the solid point element 4 of the shell portion B. Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 4 the lateral elements 5 and the associated portions of the intermediate element C may be laterally bevelled at their corner-forming portions 7. With this arrangement when the assembly of Fig. 1 is driven into a tie T as shown in Fig. 3 the lateral elements 5 of the outer shell B and their associated intermediate portions C are compressed against the shank 1 of the core A, and when the bevelled edges 7 are provided these edges are brought into close juxtaposition so that they substantially fill the opening formed by driving the assembly into the tie T. While in connection with Fig. i the elastic portions C have been shown bonded only to the outer shell portion A, if desired the assembly may be' completely preformed as shown in Fig. 3 and the' portions C may be bonded to both the inner core A and the outer shell B, as described in connection with Fig. 13 hereinafter.

As shown in Figs. l and 3 the outer shell member is preferably provided with barb elements 8, of suitable form. These barb elements may take the form of teeth extending the full width of the elements 5, or of teeth of lesser width extending outwardly therefrom for biting into the wood of the tie T, Fig. 3, and securely anchoring the shell therein.

Referring now to the embodiments of Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8, in the form there shown intermediate and outer portions Ca and Ba are provided for association with an inner core A having the form of a conventional rail spike Aa having a head 2a for overlying the rail liange R. This form of the invention in its broader aspects is particularly useful for retig'htening or seating conventional rail Spikes, as such spikes may be inserted between the lateral portions 8a of the shell, with which are associated intermediate members Ca, as shown inV Fig. 8, and the assembly may then be driven into the tie l Fig. 5 until the head 2a secures the rail ange R. The driving force will conform the elements Ba, Ca of Fig. 8 to the Configuration of the conventional spike Aa, as shown in Fig. 5, compressing the intermediate elastic portion Ca with gripping force against the spike shank 1a. In the form shown as is especially clear from Fig. 6 only one opposed pair of shell elements is provided for embracing opposite sides of the substantially square shank of the spike Aa, Fig. 7, that lie parallel to the linear edge of the spike tip 3a which in the spike here considered is of wedge shape rather than of pointed pyramidal form. In the form shown in Figs. 5 through 8 the intermediate portions Ca are shown bonded to the outer shell portionsA Ba, but if the entire assembly of Fig. 5 is to be preformed they may be bonded both to the spike shank and to the outer shell elements. Also, in this form of the invention, in which the shank 1a of the spike Aa is substantially uniform in cross section throughout its body, the outer assembly Ba-Ca it tapered in thickness (apart from the barb elements) to provide a wedging or dovetailing effect that places part of the elastic stress on the members Ca in compression rather than all of it in shear or tension. Asrillustrated in Figs. 5 and 8 this embodiment may have its shell members Biz externally barbed or roughe'ned at 8a in any suitable manner for biting firmly into the wood of the tie T for securely anchoring the shell therein.

Particularly when the intermediate elements C are not bonded to both the core and shell elements, or when any unfilled space may be left in the tie socket either at the corners 7, Fig. 4 or because of a variance in width between the elements Ba-C'a and the conventional spike shank Ia in Fig. 6, a ring of sealing compound S, Fig. 5, is preferably placed or extruded under the head 2a of the core member in sealing relation to the shell elements and adjacent tie surfaces to prevent or restrict ingress of water thereto.

ln the modification shown in Figs. 9 and l0 the construction may be generally similar to that of Figs. l to 4, and the intermediate layer Cb Fig. l() may be bonded to the shell elements 5b or tothe shank 1b of the core element Ab, Fig. 9, or both.- The principal difference between this form and the forms of Figs. l to 4 is that the shank 1b of the corre portion Ab is formed with concave opposed faces,V the elements of the intermediate layer Bb being convexed to nest therewith. Because of the wedging action of the concave faces a larger proportion of the compressive stress applied to the intermediate portion, during the driving of the spike and in the stretching of the ared form thereof, is applied as compressive strengthdirected generally toward the centers of the outer shell elements 5b.

The embodiment shown in Fig. ll is generally similar to that shown in Figs. 9 and l0, but comprises more than two pairs of opposed faces on the shank 1c of the core portion Ac and comprises more than two pairs of opposed sections of the intermediate and outer shell portions. The forms of Figs. l0 and ll of course may be barbed as described in connection with the form of Figs. l to 4 and the form of Figs. 5 to 8 and hereinafter.

fn lieu of the manner of barbing and bonding above described, the arrangement illustrated in Fig. l2 may be employed. In this arrangement the intermediate layer Cd is bonded to the shank 1d of a core portion Ad of any suitable form, and the outer shell Bd has outstruck barbs 8d formed in its core embracing portions 5d. By this construction recesses or shouldered portions 9d are created inward-ly of the barbs 8d into which the rubbery material of the intermediate portion Cd is forced when the shell is compressed in the driving of the spike assembly. Thus whether or not the intermediate portion Cd is otherwise bonded, as by vulcanization, to the inner face of the outer shell Bd, a secure grip is effected between the two, minimizing permanent displacement incident to stretching of the spike.

A further alternative arrangement, as shown in Fig. 13, may employ a core portion Ae having a generally cylindrical shank 1e provided with ribs or grooves 10e on its surface. A cylindrical outer shell portion Be having its embracing portion 5e interiorly ribbed or grooved as at 9e is here shown, and a cylindrical intermediate layer of rubbery material Ce is shown assembled between the portions Ae and Be. With this arrangement it is preferable to vulcanize or otherwise secure the intermedia-te layer Ce to both of the portions Ae, Be and to rely on the ribbed or grooved construction toy strengthen the bond thus obtained, but where undue stretching is not contemplated the ribbing alone may be relied upon to afford a fairly tenacious bond. In the form of Fig. 13 the core portion Ae is seated at its lower end within a recess in the point or driving head 4e of the outer shell Be, and thus affords an abutment therewith for effecting driving the spike assembly in which any spreading of the driving abutment of the core A under the force of impact is resisted by the strong solid cross section of the driving point 4e. By this construction a spike assembly is obtained which may be more readily removed from a rail than the arrangements shown in Figs. 1 to 4 and Figs. 9 to ll in which the impact of the core portion against the abutment 6 may cause some spreading of the end 3 of the core portion and thus some expansion of the lower ends of the embracing elements 5 within the rail tie T, particularly when the spike assembly is driven into a tie offering extreme resistance to penetration.

In the forms of the invention shown in Figs. l to 4, 9 and l0, and ll and l2, the compression of the split shell portions during driving of the spike may cause expansion of the rubbery layer into the open corners of the assembly. This is not undesirable, however, as such expansion aids in sealing the composite spike shell into the tie socket. Further in those forms of the invention and in the unsp'lit forms thereof exemplified in Fig. 13, it will be noted that all surfaces of the spike core ride on the elastic intermediate layer. This provides maximum self retraction of the spike core after yielding to wave motion of the rail, whereas, in the form of Figs. 5 to 8 the lateral contact of the core element with the wooden face of the tie socket tends to snub the retraction of the core element, and to produce wear ofl the adjacent wooden surfaces.

It is to be understood that features of the invention disclosed in connection with one illustrative embodiment may be employed in others thereof, with or without special adaptation, and that the exemplary embodiments hereindescribed are illustrative and not restrictive of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims. All modications that come Within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be included therein.

I claim:

1. A drivable, longitudinally extensible and retractable rail spike comprising a pointed outer shell member, a headed inner spike body having a shank member embraced by and drivingly engaging said shell member, and means housed between said shank and shell members for elastically resisting lifting of said spike body relative to such shell and for retracting said spike body back into said shell after such lifting.

2. A drivable rail spike according to claim 1, said last named means comprising a body of rubber laterally interposed between said shank and shell members and subjected to shearing tension on lifting of said shank relative to said shell member.

3. A drivable rail spike according to claim 2, said body of rubber being bonded to at least one of said members.

4. A drivable rail spike according to claim 3, said body of rubber being Wedge shaped With its thicker portion adjacent the headed end of said shank member, and being subjected to compression as Well as longitudinal shear as said shank is lifted relative to said shell.

5. A drivable rail spike according to claim 4, at least one of said members being tapered in dove-tail fashion complementarily to said wedge shaped rubber body.

6. A drivable rail spike according to claim 3, said body of rubber being bonded to both said members.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 642,169 Stokes Ian. 30, 1900 799,298 Bond Sept. 12, 1905 862,898 Forsyth Aug. 13, 1907 999,771 Forsyth Aug. 8, 1911 1,092,009 Bishton Mar. 31, 1914 1,294,778 Cutting Feb. 18, 1919 1,350,381 Ochs Aug. 24, 1920 1,373,875 Fallon Apr. 5, 1921 1,450,280 Cutting Apr. 3, 1923 1,508,233 Moody Sept. 9, 1924 1,810,717 Lord June 16, 1931 1,855,329 Wagner Apr. 26, 1932 2,686,667 Willison et al. Aug. 17, 1954 2,690,879 Snyder Oct. 5, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 927,833

France Apr. 27, 1945 

